President asked to preserve Tadoba-Andhari Tiger reserve forest

The Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) has drawn the attention of the President Pratibha Patil for urgent intervention in the very serious issue of the colossal damage that the Adani mines would cause in the vicinity of the famous Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). A whopping 1,600 hectares of the land allocated to the private company supports rich forest from which over 12 lakh full grown trees will be cut down for the mining work,

It said that the biodiversity mainly comprises 18 animal species, nine of which including tiger and leopard are endangered species, 75 species of trees, 35 species of shrubs and herbs, 16 species of bamboo and grass and 21 species of climbers costing more than Rs.3 billion.

VJAS has mentioned the reference complete public support of Chandrapur district environmentalists, now seven MPs from Vidarbha region joined hands to show their support to the cause of protecting last remaining tiger havens in the country.

The MPs from the region, forgetting their political affiliations, Congress MPs led by Vilas Muttemwar (Nagpur), Datta Meghe (Wardha), Marotrao Kowase (Gadchiroli) , BJP's Hansraj Ahir (Chandrapur) , Sanjay Dhotre (Akola) and Shiv Sena's Anandrao Adsul (Amravati) and Pratap Jadhav (Buldhana) joined hands to show their support to the cause.

VJAS has attached copy of a joint letter of these M.P.s to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh drawing his attention to the colossal damage that the Adani mines would cause in the vicinity of the famous Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR).

As per letter handed over to the PM by Dutta Meghe and Sanjay Dhotre, two prominent leaders from Vidarbha, it is reported that "Adani Power Ltd has been allocated 1,750 hectares of rich forest land having coal reserves at Lohara neat Tadoba. We are of the considered view, based on incontrovertible information, that operation of the proposed opencast coal mine will cause irreparable damage to the rich biodiversity in and around TATR and seriously endanger the very existence of the tiger. There are 45 tigers in the reserve forest, rated as the best in the country in terms of tiger density,"

Throwing light of serious impact of damage letter further adds that’s whopping 1,600 hectares of the land allocated to the private company supports rich forest from which over 12 lakh full grown trees will be cut down for the mining work, The biodiversity mainly comprises 18 animal species, nine of which including tiger and leopard are endangered species, 75 species of trees, 35 species of shrubs and herbs, 16 species of bamboo and grass and 21 species of climbers. As per the environmental impact analysis, the environmental cost would be a mind boggling Rs 2.78 billion.

It is reported in the media that the mining operation sp close to a protected forest negates the government's very own conservation policy on which billions are spent to protect tigers. VJAS has urged the President to look in to MPS suggestion that Adani Power Group can be given an re-allocated some alternatives mining blocks or links where there is no damage to forest and wildlife.

Otherwise, it said that the company may be advised to use coal which it regularly imports for the proposed power plant to come up at Tiroda in Gondia district. This way power can be produced without sacrificing rich forests, rare biodiversity and endangered tiger.

VJAS president Kishore Tiwari said that the EIA and Adani group coal block controversy is not new. He alleged that the NCP leader and union minister for civil aviation Praffull Patel has played key role to clear this coal block hence his name is missing from the letter. He said that they have proof to alleged massive corruption and active role of Adani’s Election Fund to Congress and NCP to get EIA clearance. (EOM)